Physician assistants in demand

May 13, 2014

Physician assistants broke into the rank of the 10 most sought-after providers for the first time in 2013, according to Medicus Firm, a physician placement company. Medicus bases its findings on hiring activities in more than 200 hospitals and group practices nationwide. The demand for nonphysician providers will increase as the strains on primary care continue, Medicus says.

In addition to physician assistants, gastroenterologists made the top 10. OB/gyns and pediatricians dropped off the list.

The number of employers offering signing bonuses to potential physician employees declined a bit in 2013, something that surprised Medicus. “However, this could be simply a post-surge dip because of the volume and amounts of bonuses offered the previous year,” says Steve Marsh, a managing partner. “This statistic typically fluctuates and will most likely increase again as recruitment remains competitive for physicians, especially primary care.”